Word Origin & History

span "distance between two objects," O.E. span "distance between the thumb and little finger of an extended hand," probably related to M.Du. spannen "to join, fasten" (see span (n.2)). The Gmc. word was borrowed into M.L. as spannus, hence It. spanna, O.Fr. espanne, Fr. empan. As a measure of length, roughly nine inches. Meaning "length of time" first attested 1599; that of "space between abutments of an arch, etc." is from 1725. Meaning "maximum lateral dimension of an aircraft" is first recorded 1909. Attention span is recorded from 1922.

Example Sentences for span

There were six arches here, of which the two centre ones had a span of 100 ft.

I feel confident that it has contributed greatly to my span of life.

For the formation we may compare American vamose, to skedaddle, from Span.

A pretty red house, all spick and span, and not a soul in it, far as I could see.

At last the cave is pronounced spick and span, and the doorway thought wide enough to admit the bulky prey.

So they went in to where Gudruda sat spinning in the hall, singing as she span.

Only—it was an unfortunate circumstance that Comus should have been the span on which everything balanced.

Span by span the tiger climbed up, nearer and nearer to the box.

He finally suggested that diet was the chief factor in determining the span of life.

And there's a spotless table-cloth, and all the accessories are spick and span.